Day Of The Dead Revisited

 I've just been taking some photographs of my  Day of the Dead models for my granddaughter's art project.

I collected the objects together when I was researching for a painting about my mother entitled 'OFFRENDA' in 1997. Although I used Sooty and friends to represent our family I was interested in the idea of building an altar of memories, Mexican style, to celebrate those that had died but would not be forgotten.

You can see the photographs of part of my collection and the painting on my latest Instagram post, which is also available on my website

Getting Noticed

 When I set up Ted Coney's Family Portraits nearly fifteen years ago I went on a business course. One of the things I learnt was that a customer needs to be aware of you about five times before getting interested. It could be a poster, a newspaper or magazine article, a radio or T.V. interview, picking up a flyer , giving someone your business card or coming across your website.

Well, there is a new kid on the block. Ely now has a series of digital kiosks which visitors can access by touching the screen. I'm under 'Attractions' and there is a photo of me with one, on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts.

No Time To Die

 The last time I had a booking for my art lecture 'On The Edge' (see my website for details) was just before Covid struck.

 Therefore, I was surprised to get an enquiry about the talk (painting the family) and even more surprised that the booking was for October 2024!

When I murmured that I would be eighty by then, the caller said  she was eighty one and it was only a number.

If my body and brain hold out, I hope to be there.

Probably Not

 I've recently entered one of my paintings,  'In Three Our Kingdom' into a competition to win a meal for four in a local restaurant. (you can see the picture on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts)

Called 'A Matter of Taste', it's part of an art exhibition about food and more specifically about Sunday dinners.

 My painting does show a meal set for a Sunday roast which actually took place, except I've used possessions rather than food on the plates. This was because I met with my two brothers and after the meal we took it in turns to decide which of my mother's possessions we wanted.

Will my painting win the competition or even be accepted into the exhibition? Probably not.

A Little Help

 I gave my six year old grandson a job to do last week. He built  a ladder out of Lego to prop up against the dolls house for a drawing I'm making for my next painting 'Old Wives Tales'.

Each object ( the ladder being one) is a clue to what's happening in the final painting. If you ever saw the film 'The Draughtsman's Contract' you will know what I mean. 

You can see my efforts on my latest Facebook and Instagram posts.